“It doesn’t matter where we live on this barna (earth). Nganha (we) are all sharing the same Ilgari (sky). Although we may see different Ilgarijiri (things belonging to the sky) we are looking up at the same stars and constellations. We are Ilgari Inyayimanha (sharing the sky). Bulgari Ingari Inyayimanha. Those two are sharing the sky – Australia and South Africa. Ngahu ilgari Inyayimanha. (We are all sharing the sky).” © Margaret Whitehurst, Jenny Green , Barbara Merritt, Charmaine Green, Kevin Merritt, Sherryl Green, Tracey Green, Wendy Jackamarra, Susan Merry, Johnaya Jones, Gemma Merritt, Craig 'Chook' Pickett and Nerolie Blurton - acrylic on linen
Ilgali Inyayimanha - ‘Shared Sky’
"In Nieu Bethesda, the term Bushman used to be considered abusive. People identified as coloured, having lost language, culture, land, and identity generations ago. At the Bethesda Art Centre, as we read the traditional stories preserved in the Bleek/Lloyd manuscripts in the 19th Century, the Centre artists began to recognise scraps of knowledge and tradition that were still alive in the community. Using roots as a symbol for connectedness, the group began to explore the /Xam mythology as a way of connecting to their own ancestral past. During an educational trip to Cape Town, we visited the Iziko gallery where there were controversial dioramas of Bushmen people behind glass. The group discovered faces that looked like close relatives, saw footage of Bushman dances still danced in Nieu Bethesda today, and exhibits of herbs still commonly gathered and used in the village. A foreign tourist asked, “Are you bushmen?” and the answer was a resounding “Yes!” Bushman became a source of pride rather than insult within the group, and to some extent in the wider context of the Nieu Bethesda community." © Jeni Couzyn, 2014 “Our Roots” --- Collaborative art quilt by First People Artists, Bethesda Arts Centre: Jeni Couzyn (artistic director). Sandra Sweers (lead artist), Naas/ey Swiers, Maria Tamana, Yvonne Merrington, Gerald Mei, Riaan Swiers, Julia Ma/gas, Rentia Davidson, Felicity Tromp, Merlyn Davidson, Esmerelda Tromp, Frendoline Ma/gas, Serafine Tromp. © Bethesda Foundation. All rights reserved.
Our Roots
"A girl of the early times was hungry and cross in her confinement hut during her first menses. She was not allowed to gather food for herself, and had to rely on the |huin roots her mother brought her. Nor was she allowed to be seen by the young hunters, or eat their meat, in case their arrows should grow cold and their hunting fail. The pressure inside her grew and grew till she flung the wood ashes from her fire into the sky. “You who are wood ashes, you will altogether become the Milky Way, and sail through the sky, following your footprints, so people coming home by night can see their way.” © Jeni Couzyn, 2014 “The Girl Who Made Stars” --- Collaborative art quilt by First People Artists, Bethesda Arts Centre: Jeni Couzyn (artistic director). Sandra Sweers (lead artist), Naas/ey Swiers, Maria Tamana, Yvonne Merrington, Gerald Mei, Riaan Swiers, Julia Ma/gas, Rentia Davidson, Felicity Tromp, Merlyn Davidson, Esmerelda Tromp, Frendoline Ma/gas, Serafine Tromp. © Bethesda Foundation. All rights reserved.
The Girl Who Made Stars
"During an educational trip to Cape Town, we visited the Iziko gallery where there were controversial dioramas of Bushmen people behind glass. The group discovered faces that looked like close relatives, saw footage of Bushman dances still danced in Nieu Bethesda today, and exhibits of herbs still commonly gathered and used in the village. A foreign tourist asked, “Are you bushmen?” and the answer was a resounding “Yes!” Bushman became a source of pride rather than insult within the group, and to some extent in the wider context of the Nieu Bethesda community." © Jeni Couzyn, 2014 “Creation of the Milky Way” --- Collaborative art quilt by First People Artists, Bethesda Arts Centre: Jeni Couzyn (artistic director). Sandra Sweers (lead artist), Naas/ey Swiers, Maria Tamana, Yvonne Merrington, Gerald Mei, Riaan Swiers, Julia Ma/gas, Rentia Davidson, Felicity Tromp, Merlyn Davidson, Esmerelda Tromp, Frendoline Ma/gas, Serafine Tromp. © Bethesda Foundation. All rights reserved.
Creation of the Milky Way
"This is how it happens: The sun comes, the day breaks, the darkness goes away. The sun sets, the darkness comes out, the moon rises. Moon brightens the darkness, taking away the darkness. The darkness departs. Moon goes along, brightening the darkness. Moon sets. Sun is following close behind. Sun slices at Moon with his knife, each daybreak, a little more. Painfully Moon goes along, decaying away. He cries out to Sun, “O Sun! leave for my children the backbone!” Sun hears, and leaves alive for the children the backbone of the moon. A sliver. Painfully Moon goes home to become a new moon. He puts on a new stomach. He’s alive! He becomes large, he becomes whole. And so it goes on." © Jeni Couzyn, 2014 “Sun Spare my Children” --- Collaborative art quilt by First People Artists, Bethesda Arts Centre: Jeni Couzyn (artistic director). Sandra Sweers (lead artist), Naas/ey Swiers, Maria Tamana, Yvonne Merrington, Gerald Mei, Riaan Swiers, Julia Ma/gas, Rentia Davidson, Felicity Tromp, Merlyn Davidson, Esmerelda Tromp, Frendoline Ma/gas, Serafine Tromp. © Bethesda Foundation. All rights reserved.
Sun Spare my Children
"In the early time there was no death. Hare was crying: “My mother is dead. She will not come again!” Moon was firm: “Hare, your mother has died, but she will, like me, like all of nature, return alive.” “Oh no no no,” cried Hare. “My mother is altogether dead. She will not living return.” He cried and howled. There was no stopping him. Moon became angry and cleft his mouth. He cursed the Hare: “From now on you, and all humanity, will die, and when you have died, not living return.” --- Collaborative art quilt by First People Artists, Bethesda Arts Centre: Jeni Couzyn (artistic director). Sandra Sweers (lead artist), Naas/ey Swiers, Maria Tamana, Yvonne Merrington, Gerald Mei, Riaan Swiers, Julia Ma/gas, Rentia Davidson, Felicity Tromp, Merlyn Davidson, Esmerelda Tromp, Frendoline Ma/gas, Serafine Tromp. © Jeni Couzyn, 2014 “Origin of Death” --- Collaborative art quilt by First People Artists, Bethesda Arts Centre: Jeni Couzyn (artistic director). Sandra Sweers (lead artist), Naas/ey Swiers, Maria Tamana, Yvonne Merrington, Gerald Mei, Riaan Swiers, Julia Ma/gas, Rentia Davidson, Felicity Tromp, Merlyn Davidson, Esmerelda Tromp, Frendoline Ma/gas, Serafine Tromp. © Bethesda Foundation. All rights reserved.
Origin of Death
"In the early times, the sun was asleep in his house, shining for himself alone. The earth was cold and dark. The mothers couldn’t dry the ant-larvae to eat so they were hungry, and the people were cold. Then the old woman gathered the children together: “My children, creep up to that old man the sun while he is sleeping. Creep up to that old Sun Armpit, and fling him into the sky, so that the earth can be warm for us, so that all the world will be bright.” In the early times, the sun was asleep in his house, shining for himself alone. The earth was cold and dark. The mothers couldn’t dry the ant-larvae to eat so they were hungry, and the people were cold. Then the old woman gathered the children together: “My children, creep up to that old man the sun while he is sleeping. Creep up to that old Sun Armpit, and fling him into the sky, so that the earth can be warm for us, so that all the world will be bright.” © Jeni Couzyn, 2014 “Creation of the Sun” --- Collaborative art quilt by First People Artists, Bethesda Arts Centre: Jeni Couzyn (artistic director). Sandra Sweers (lead artist), Naas/ey Swiers, Maria Tamana, Yvonne Merrington, Gerald Mei, Riaan Swiers, Julia Ma/gas, Rentia Davidson, Felicity Tromp, Merlyn Davidson, Esmerelda Tromp, Frendoline Ma/gas, Serafine Tromp. © Bethesda Foundation. All rights reserved.
Creation of the Sun
"Mantis, called /Kaggen, is a celestial trickster figure in /Xam mythology. In the three Mantis stories depicted here, first he takes the form of a Red Hartebeest, and lies down, pretending to be dead where excited children find him and cut him up for food. The Hartebeest head, carried by the smallest child, winks at her. It whispers: “Loose the thong from my eye so I can see where we’re going.” In terror she drops it on the ground. “Oh my poor head, oh bad little person,” says the dead hartebeest. The children flee in terror. Mantis resurrects and transforms into an old man. Next, Baboons kill the Mantis’ son, |Gaunu Tsaxau, (son of Gaunu, the Great Star) and play ball with his eye. Mantis throws the eye into the sky, hides it in his bag, puts it into the spring where it grows again into his living child. Finally Mantis, having created darkness, throws his shoe up into the sky, where it transforms and becomes the moon walking its path in the sky." © Jeni Couzyn, 2014 “Mantis, Baboons, and the Red Hartebeest” --- Collaborative art quilt by First People Artists, Bethesda Arts Centre: Jeni Couzyn (artistic director). Sandra Sweers (lead artist), Naas/ey Swiers, Maria Tamana, Yvonne Merrington, Gerald Mei, Riaan Swiers, Julia Ma/gas, Rentia Davidson, Felicity Tromp, Merlyn Davidson, Esmerelda Tromp, Frendoline Ma/gas, Serafine Tromp. © Bethesda Foundation. All rights reserved.
Mantis, Baboons, and the Red Hartebeest
"The /Xam trickster, whose name was |kaggen, created from his son-in-law’s shoe a tiny live Eland. He kept it hidden in the reeds, and fed it on wild honey. The Meercats, jealous and ruthless, found the Eland when it had grown large and beautiful. At once they slaughtered it and roasted it to feast on. This was the first time humanity killed for food. |kaggen, heartbroken, tried to fight them, but was losing the battle. On a bush he found his Eland’s gall bladder, and in his grief, pierced it, unleashing darkness into the world. Then he threw his shoe into the sky where it became the shining moon, lighting the dark for him to fly away home." © Jeni Couzyn, 2014 “The Origin of Darkness and the Moon” --- Collaborative art quilt by First People Artists, Bethesda Arts Centre: Jeni Couzyn (artistic director). Sandra Sweers (lead artist), Naas/ey Swiers, Maria Tamana, Yvonne Merrington, Gerald Mei, Riaan Swiers, Julia Ma/gas, Rentia Davidson, Felicity Tromp, Merlyn Davidson, Esmerelda Tromp, Frendoline Ma/gas, Serafine Tromp. © Bethesda Foundation. All rights reserved.
The Origin of Darkness and the Moon
"The Emu in the Sky represents the time to go looking for emu eggs and it was special to us because our parents – my mum especially – couldn’t wait for emu egg to bake us a special fresh emu egg cake." © Margaret Whitehurst - acrylic on linen
Emu in the Sky
"Caterpillars crossing the roads, they try to hide their eggs by not leaving too many tracks." © Margaret Whitehurst - acrylic on linen
Emu in the Sky
"Emu start laying eggs at the start of winter. When caterpillar start moving around in long lines tells us that the emu is sitting on the eggs." © Margaret Whitehurst - acrylic on linen
Egg Laying Season
"This constellation made me think of a sound wave from space and the symbol of the constellation. I was intrigued by sound coming from space and it sounded like static. That is why I painted it." © Margaret Whitehurst - acrylic on linen
Lacerta
"After talking and spending time with the scientists I want to look at other constellations. The story behind Coma Berenices caught my attention because of the relationship to the importance of the hair to the night sky. In our culture hair is not to be cut at night." © Charmaine Green - acrylic on linen
Coma Berenices
"This is the Milky Way and the stars and clouds. The planet is the Earth." © Wendy Jackamarra - acrylic on linen
The Milky Way
"The Water Serpent, stretched across the sky with its many heads, was a monster until it was cut and killed. The red blood drips down from the clot. The browns and orange show that the Hydra can be seen best in autumn." © Nerolie Blurton - acrylic on linen
Hydra the Water Serpent
"This constellation is related to Hydra." © Nerolie Blurton - acrylic on linen
Hydra
"I painted this after hearing that Jupiter has 10 moons because when I looked through the telescope I could see at least 2 moons on each side. This inspired me." © Barbara Merritt - acrylic on linen
Jupiter and 10 Moons
"When the Yallabirri (emu) appears in the sky in preparation for the laying of the eggs." © Kyle Pickett - acrylic on linen
Emu in the Sky
"Yallabirri (emu) lying on the eggs." © Kyle Pickett - acrylic on linen
Emu in the Sky
"With the hatched emu chicks." © Kyle Pickett - acrylic on linen
Emu in the Sky
"Tells us when the emu eggs have been laid, also Seven Sisters & the Southern Cross." © Craig Pickett - acrylic on linen
Emu in the Sky
"When you see the Emu in the Sky, that's when you know emu start laying emu eggs and people go bush looking for them." © Wendy Jackamarra - acrylic on linen
Emu in the Sky
"The image of the Emu in Sky when its emu egg time. Colours depict the different patterns and colours of the night & emu – is my contemporary way of painting." © Susan Merry - acrylic on linen
Emu in the Sky
"My painting is about emu eggs. In about April, you will see Emu in the Sky. That’s when you find emu eggs." © Debra Maher - acrylic on linen
Emu Eggs
"An Aboriginal story of the pink and grey galahs. They had a big disagreement with the other birds, so they fled up into the sky to escape. They were then turned into stars forming the Southern Cross and the Pointers." © Kevin Merritt - acrylic on linen
Southern Cross
"This is the story of the beautiful morning star, Venus. I was inspired by Ray Norris on a field trip to Boolardy Station, at the site. We were walking around at 4 oclock on a dark morning to catch a glimpse of the ‘Morning Star Rope’ phenomenon, which at certain times of the year appeared. Ray Norris excitedly explained how it appeared. So this is the painting to depict what actually occurs." © Kevin Merritt - acrylic on linen
Venus
"The most spectacular Universe structure in the Milky Way known as one of the Pointers of the Southern Cross." © Barbara Merritt - acrylic on linen
The Jewellery Box
"This constellation rises in the early evening. One of the favourite constellations of Professor Steve Tingay who related to me of his fascination of this group of stars since his boyhood." © Kevin Merritt - acrylic on linen
Corvus the Crow
"My painting is about the Seven Sisters, one is sick and the rest are looking after her." © Susan Merry - acrylic on linen
Seven Sisters
"The Seven Sisters is a group of stars you can see in the sky." © Wendy Jackamarra - acrylic on linen
Seven Sisters
"My painting is about the Seven Sisters, one is sick and the rest are looking after her." © Debra Maher - acrylic on linen
Seven Sisters
"The Pot is a warrior upside down and he is chasing the Seven Sisters because he wants one of them but the rest are trying to hide her." © Barbara Comeagain - acrylic on linen
Seven Sisters Pot